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Adipose Tissue Protocols pp 1–22Cite as

Overview of Adipose Tissue and Its Role in Obesity and Metabolic Disorders

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 456))

Summary

As the result of its apparent structural and histological simplicity, adipose tissue (AT) functions initially were limited to energy storage, insulation, and thermoregulation. Only decades later was the extraordinarily dynamic role of AT recognized, revealing its participation in a broad range of physiological processes, including reproduction, apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, blood pressure, atherogenesis, coagulation, fibrinolysis, immunity and vascular homeostasis with either direct or indirect implications in the regulation of proliferation. The functional pleiotropism of AT relies on its ability to synthesize and, in some cases, secrete a large number of enzymes, hormones, growth factors, cytokines, complement factors, and matrix and membrane proteins, collectively termed adipokines. At the same time, white AT expresses receptors for most of these factors, warranting a wide cross-talk at both local and systemic levels in response to metabolic changes or other external stimuli. In this chapter, mounting evidence on the specific characteristics of AT from different depots is outlined in relation to fat distribution and comorbidity development. The current knowledge in this field is reviewed with a broad perspective ranging from classification, structure, and distribution to the key functional roles of AT with a particular focus on the role of adipokines and their involvement in the metabolic disorders accompanying obesity.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by FIS PI061458 from the Spanish Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo and by the Department of Health of the Gobierno de Navarra (20/2005) of Spain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clínica Universitaria, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

    Gema Frühbeck

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  1. Gema Frühbeck
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  1. The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

    Kaiping Yang

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Frühbeck, G. (2008). Overview of Adipose Tissue and Its Role in Obesity and Metabolic Disorders. In: Yang, K. (eds) Adipose Tissue Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 456. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-245-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-245-8_1

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-916-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-245-8

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